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Invasion of the Champions is the 29th season of The Challenge. This multi-format season features 18 players who have yet to win competing against 8 Challenge Champions for a share of $350,000. The season was filmed in Thailand from September to November 2016.

Description[]

The Challenge: Invasion of the Champions brings together 18 Underdogs to battle across a series of contests for the chance to move out of squalor and into typical Challenge luxury, The Oasis! Just when the lucky ones get comfortable, they’ll find the game is far from over. The final crop of Underdogs will have to face down eight proven Champions for their share at the $350,000 prize. With devastating elimination rounds, truly baffling hookups and the first-ever three-day final on the way, Season 29 may just prove to be the most unpredictable and gripping yet!

Format[]

The game started off with 18 Underdogs (players who have yet to win a challenge) who get dropped off a boat and onto a beach, where they were living in "The Shelter." They compete individually in challenges, followed by an elimination round. The male and female winners of the challenge would be safe from elimination and earn their ticket to "The Oasis" — the season house. The last-place finishers of each gender automatically went straight into elimination for the first challenge.

In the second challenge, the challenge winners will choose a player of the opposite gender to go into the elimination. The remainder of the cast then voted in who goes against them for the first and second challenge. The males voted for the females, and vice versa.

In the third challenge, and the last chance to earn a ticket to the Oasis, the winners will be safe from elimination, and the two remaining players of each gender will automatically compete against each other. In the elimination, each gender will compete. The winners of the elimination round would return to the game, and earn a ticket to The Oasis. The losers of the elimination round go home. Players could not go into The Oasis until every ticket had been earned. Players who earned their ticket to the Oasis will be exempt from elimination and will not compete in challenges until the Champions enter the game.

In Episode 5, eight of the toughest champions (four male, four female) will enter the game, which will become a team competition - Underdogs vs. Champions. Each challenge will be designated as either an Underdog or a Champion elimination (known as "The Fortress"). The winning team will earn $10,000, $15,000, or $30,000 in their team bank account. The best performing male and female of the team designated for the challenge will then choose one player of each gender to go into the elimination. The remainder of the cast will then vote in the players who will go against the nominated players in The Fortress. The winners return to the game, and the losers are eliminated.

In the final challenge, the teams are dispersed, and the money banked from the challenges are split amongst the respective team members. The remaining money in the pot is determined by final placement.

Money for finalists is split as follows:

  • Winners: Team bank account + $100,000 each
  • Runners-Up: Team bank account + $15,000 each
  • Third Place: Team bank account + $5,000 each

Twists[]

  • The Shelter: TJ announced to the starting cast of the season that they would be staying in a run-down shelter at the start of the game rather than the traditional luxury house. In order to earn a spot in the luxury house, named The Oasis, players must win a challenge or elimination in the first three rounds of the competition. TJ later surprised the players in the Final Challenge by revealing that they would have to stay at The Shelter for the remainder of the competition.
  • Champion Invasion: Eight Champions, four male and four female, entered the game in Episode 5 to the surprise of the other players.
    • Champions vs. Underdogs: Following the arrival of the Champions, TJ announced that they would be playing on a team against the remaining Underdogs. This twist lasted until the Final Challenge where the teams were once again disbanded.
    • Underdog Bloodbath: The Underdogs will face each other in two consecutive elimination rounds. The first one will be a 4-way challenge in which one player of each gender will be eliminated if they finish last. The second competition will be the first three-way elimination in Challenge history with another one eliminated player.

Contestants[]

Male contestants
Contestant Finish
CTInvasionIcon
CT Tamburello
The Real World: Paris
Winner
in The True Champions
NelsonInvasionIcon
Nelson Thomas
Are You the One? 3
Runner-Up
in The True Champions
CoryInvasionIcon
Cory Wharton
Real World: Ex-Plosion
Third Place
in The True Champions
DarrellInvasionIcon
Darrell Taylor
Road Rules: Campus Crawl
Eliminated
in A River of Endless Light
ShaneInvasionIcon
Shane Landrum
Road Rules: Campus Crawl
Eliminated
in Caged
HunterInvasionIcon
Hunter Barfield
Are You the One? 3
Eliminated
in The Bloodbath
BananasInvasionIcon
Johnny Bananas
The Real World: Key West
Eliminated
in Go Your Own Way
DarioInvasionIcon
Dario Medrano
Are You the One? 2
Eliminated
in A Low Down Dirty Shane
ZachInvasionIcon
Zach Nichols
The Real World: San Diego (2011)
Eliminated
in Achy Breaky Heart
TonyInvasionIcon
Tony Raines
Real World: Skeletons
Eliminated
in The Mile-High Club
AnthonyInvasionIcon
Anthony Bartolotte
Are You the One? 2
Eliminated
in Four Tickets to Paradise
TheoInvasionIcon
Theo King-Bradley
Real World Seattle: Bad Blood
Quit
in Helter Shelter
BrunoInvasionIcon
Bruno Bettencourt
Real World: Skeletons
Eliminated
in Skeletal Fracture
Female contestants
Contestant Finish
AshleyMInvasionIcon
Ashley Mitchell
Real World: Ex-Plosion
Winner
in The True Champions
CamilaInvasionIcon
Camila Nakagawa
Spring Break Challenge
Runner-Up
in The True Champions
NicoleInvasionIcon
Nicole Zanatta
Real World: Skeletons
Third Place
in The True Champions
LaurelInvasionIcon
Laurel Stucky
Fresh Meat II
Eliminated
in Caged
AmandaInvasionIcon
Amanda Garcia
Are You the One? 3
Eliminated
in The Bloodbath
JennaInvasionIcon
Jenna Compono
Real World: Ex-Plosion
Eliminated
in The Bloodbath
CaraMariaInvasionIcon
Cara Maria Sorbello
Fresh Meat II
Eliminated
in Go Your Own Way
SylviaInvasionIcon
Sylvia Elsrode
Real World: Skeletons
Eliminated
in A Low Down Dirty Shane
AshleyKInvasionIcon
Ashley Kelsey
The Real World: San Diego (2011)
Eliminated
in Achy Breaky Heart
KailahInvasionIcon
Kailah Casillas
Real World: Go Big or Go Home
Eliminated
in The Mile-High Club
LaToyaInvasionIcon
LaToya Jackson
The Real World: St. Thomas
Eliminated
in Four Tickets to Paradise
AnikaInvasionIcon
Anika Rashaun
Real World Seattle: Bad Blood
Eliminated
in Helter Shelter
MarieInvasionIcon
Marie Roda
The Real World: St. Thomas
Eliminated
in Skeletal Fracture

Game Summary[]

Episode N/A Winners Elimination players Elimination game[1] Elimination outcome
# Challenge Last-place Voted In Winner Loser
1 The Over Under Nicole Marie Kailah In the Trenches Kailah Marie
Dario Bruno Tony Tony Bruno
# Challenge Winners Winner's pick Voted In Elimination game Winner Loser
3 Shell Shocked Hunter Theo Cory Who's Got Balls? Cory Theo[2]
Ashley M. Jenna Anika Jenna Anika
# Challenge Winners Last-place Elimination game Winner Loser
4 Caged and Confused Amanda Sylvia LaToya Thai Rise Sylvia LaToya
Shane Anthony Nelson Nelson Anthony
# Challenge Fortress team[3] Winners[4] Player's pick Voted In Fortress game Winner Loser
5/6 Knockout Underdogs Underdogs Sylvia Kailah Tuk Tuk Bang Bang Sylvia Kailah
Tony Shane Shane Tony
7 Roll with the Punches Champions Champions Cara Maria Ashley K. Pole Wrestle Cara Maria Ashley K.
Zach Darrell Darrell Zach
8 Curry Up Underdogs Champions Nelson Dario Bell Ringer Nelson Dario
Jenna Sylvia Jenna Sylvia
9/10 Fallout Champions Underdogs Bananas vs. Darrell Balls In Darrell Bananas
Cara Maria vs. Laurel Laurel Cara Maria
10 Crossover N/A Underdogs N/A
# Challenge Fortress team Winners Fortress players Fortress game Winner Loser
11/12[5] X-It Underdogs Jenna
Hunter
Amanda vs. Ashley M. vs. Nicole Inside Out Ashley M. Amanda
Nicole
Cory vs. Nelson vs. Shane Nelson Shane
Cory
12/13 Caved In Champions Underdogs CT vs. Darrell Knot So Fast CT Darrell
Camila vs. Laurel Camila Laurel
13/14/15 Final Challenge CT 2nd place: Nelson, 3rd place: Cory
Ashley M. 2nd place: Camila, 3rd place: Nicole

Episode Progress[]

Contestants Episodes
1/2 3 4 5/6 7 8 9/10 10 11/12 12/13 Finale
Ashley M. SAFE WIN SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE ELIM SAFE WINNER
CT N/A SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE ELIM WINNER
Camila N/A SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE ELIM SECOND
Nelson SAFE SAFE ELIM SAFE SAFE ELIM SAFE SAFE ELIM SAFE SECOND
Cory SAFE ELIM SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE ELIM SAFE THIRD
Nicole WIN SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE ELIM SAFE THIRD
Darrell N/A SAFE ELIM SAFE ELIM SAFE SAFE OUT
Laurel N/A SAFE WIN SAFE ELIM SAFE SAFE OUT
Shane SAFE SAFE WIN ELIM SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE OUT
Amanda SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE OUT
Jenna SAFE ELIM SAFE SAFE SAFE ELIM SAFE SAFE OUT
Hunter SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE OUT
Cara Maria N/A SAFE ELIM SAFE OUT
Bananas N/A SAFE WIN SAFE OUT
Sylvia SAFE SAFE ELIM ELIM SAFE OUT
Dario WIN SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE OUT
Zach N/A SAFE OUT
Ashley K. N/A SAFE OUT
Tony ELIM SAFE SAFE OUT
Kailah ELIM SAFE SAFE OUT
Anthony SAFE SAFE OUT
LaToya SAFE SAFE OUT
Anika SAFE OUT
Theo SAFE QUIT
Bruno OUT
Marie OUT
Competition
     The contestant won the final challenge.
     The contestant did not win the final challenge.
     The contestant won safety from the elimination round.
     The contestant won the challenge, but was subject to the elimination round.
     The contestant was exempt from participating in the elimination round.
     The contestant was not selected for the elimination round.
     The contestant won in the elimination round.
     The contestant won the elimination round by default.
     The contestant lost in the elimination round and was eliminated.
     The contestant withdrew from the elimination round.
     The contestant came in last in the daily challenge and was eliminated.

Voting Progress[]

Voter Episode
1/2 3 4 5/6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Ashley M. Tony Theo Tony Dario No voting
CT N/A Camila
Camila N/A CT
Nelson Kailah Anika Kailah Sylvia
Cory Kailah Anika Ashley M. Sylvia
Nicole Theo Cory Shane Nelson
Darrell N/A Ashley K.
Laurel N/A Zach
Shane Kailah Anika Kailah Sylvia
Amanda Tony Cory Cory Dario
Jenna Theo Cory Shane Shane
Hunter Kailah Jenna Kailah Jenna
Cara Maria N/A Darrell
Bananas N/A Cara Maria
Sylvia Tony Cory Cory Dario
Dario Kailah Anika Sylvia Sylvia
Zach N/A Ashley K.
Ashley K. N/A Darrell
Kailah Theo Cory Shane
Tony Sylvia Anika Ashley M.
LaToya Tony Cory
Anthony Kailah Anika
Theo Kailah Anika
Anika Tony Cory
Bruno
Marie

Votes in bold are the votes made by the player who won safety.

Notes[]

  1. The first three elimination rounds were not given a name. Beginning with the fourth challenge, the elimination round is known as "The Fortress."
  2. Theo was disqualified from elimination for refusing to jump off the cliff. As a result, Cory was declared the winner by default.
  3. The Champions (Ashley K., Bananas, Camila, Cara Maria, CT, Darrell, Laurel, and Zach) entered the competition at the fourth challenge as a season twist.
  4. The Underdogs participate in individual challenges from Episodes 1–4. When the Champions enter the competition in Episode 5, all contestants will be separated into two teams — Champions and Underdogs.
  5. T.J. first announced that no elimination round would be held following the "Crossover" challenge in Episode 10, and instead that each contestant was treated to a house party. However, that was a part of the Bloodbath twist and it was a underdog go-away party where the Underdogs will face each other in two consecutive elimination rounds. The first one will be a four-way challenge in which one player of each gender will be automatically eliminated and the second elimination will be a three-way elimination with another one eliminated player.

Episodes[]

Episode Air date Viewers (in millions)
1 "Gimme Shelter" February 7, 2017 0.69
2 "Skeletal Fracture" February 7, 2017 0.65
3 "Helter Shelter" February 14, 2017 0.65
4 "Four Tickets to Paradise" February 21, 2017 0.76
5 "Underdog Eat Underdog World" February 28, 2017 0.78
6 "The Mile-High Club" March 7, 2017 0.80
7 "Achy Breaky Heart" March 14, 2017 0.86
8 "A Low Down Dirty Shane" March 21, 2017 0.81
9 "An Officer and a Gentlewoman" March 28, 2017 0.82
10 "Go Your Own Way" April 4, 2017 0.75
11 "The Bloodbath" April 11, 2017 0.78
12 "Caged" April 18, 2017 0.79
13 "A River of Endless Light" April 25, 2017 0.76
14 "Math Is Hard" May 2, 2017 0.75
15 "The True Champions" May 9, 2017 0.73

Reunion[]

The reunion was filmed in New York City, New York, and was hosted by Mike "The Miz" Mizanin. The contestants who attended the reunion were: Amanda, Ashley M., Bananas, Camila, Cara Maria, Cory, CT, Darrell, Hunter, Jenna, Kailah, Laurel, Nelson, Nicole, and Shane.

Trivia[]

The Challenge Series

Road Rules: All StarsReal World vs. Road RulesChallenge 2000Extreme ChallengeBattle of the Seasons (2002)Battle of the SexesThe GauntletThe InfernoBattle of the Sexes 2The Inferno IIThe Gauntlet 2Fresh MeatThe DuelThe Inferno 3The Gauntlet IIIThe IslandThe Duel IIThe RuinsFresh Meat IICutthroatRivalsBattle of the ExesBattle of the Seasons (2012)Rivals IIFree AgentsBattle of the Exes IIBattle of the BloodlinesRivals IIIInvasion of the ChampionsDirty 30VendettasFinal ReckoningWar of the WorldsWar of the Worlds 2Total MadnessDouble AgentsSpies, Lies & AlliesRide or DiesBattle for a New Champion

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